Joseph zahm



J. ZAHM.

Shifting-Rail.

Patented Mar. 5, 1867.

W272 665%? fiMA ws OZ 6 M N. PETERS. FHOTO-UTMOGRAPHER, WASHlNGTON. D C,

' Qu gluten igstwt @ffigg,

JOSEPH ZAHM, or REno i NEw YORK.

' Letters Patent No. 62,719, dated March 5, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIFTING RAIL POE GARRIAGESEATS- @112 fitlntnle referral: in in ih'tfit Esters went mm mating wt at the same.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOSEEH ZAHM, of the village of Fredonia, Chautauqua county,.State of New York, have invented a new and improved mode of fastening and securing a Portable or Shifting Top for Carriages; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the'letters of reference marked thereon, such drawing being made a part of this specification. i

' The nature of my invention consistsin a joint in the rail or seat-bar, by means of which the rail or bar is lengthened and shortened, and in the working of said joint by a lever, and in the fastening of said lever; thereby the top :of a carriage is easily shifted, and is securely and firmly fastened, without the use of nuts,.screws, or keys.

To enable others to use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figures 1 and 2 represent section end of seatzrails B 13, working in'the'joint, and which are kept in position by-lever A and a similarstrap on the outer side ofthe seat-rail B B, but not extending beyond the width of therail, and which are securely riveted to the seat-rail or bar at the section ends of the seat-rail, and thus made to form the joints spoken of and named. represents the lever, by means of which the joint is worked, and the seat-rail or bar B B is lengthened and shortened, which moves and operates the hooks C O, fastening and securing them firmly in mortises E E. Lever is also a spring, and when brought down springs over and on pins 3 on bar B B, and this prevents the working of the joint. I

In putting on a top first insert the front hooks or ends of rods 1) D in mortises F F; then insert hooks C in mortises E E; then bring down the lever A beside the barB B, which lengthens the same and places the hooks in proper place in and under mortises E E, and prevents the. same from lifting out of position, making thetop strongly and firmly fastened. To remove a top from over and ofi the seat, place a-finger'on the thumb-piece on lever- A, springing it forward and unfastening it from pin 3, and then turning the leuer upwards and backwards which works the joint and shortens the seat-rail B B, and draws hooksO 0 fully into the'mortises E E, so that they can be lifted out from the mortises and the top removed."

Wh at I'claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-,

The joint and lever above described, and the use and application of the same for the uses and purposes above described. Dated June 11, 1866.

. JOSEPH ZAHM; Witnesses:

J. P.- MULLEET, L. R. GREENE. 

